ECONOMIC FORECASTS

ECONOMIC FORECASTS This week The Economist launches a new quarterly poll of private-sector forecasters. The table shows the average of their predictions of growth and current-account balances for 25 emerging economies. Despite the fallout from Asia's financial crisis, China is expected to remain the fastest-growing emerging economy. Our seers expect its GDP to grow by 6.7% in 1998 and 7.2% in 1999. They also expect continued strong growth in Poland, with GDP rising by 5.8% in 1998 and 5.5% in 1999. Argentina is tipped to be Latin America's star performer, with 5.5% growth this year, but Brazil's growth is forecast at only 1.3

ASIAN OUTLOOK The consensus on Indonesia's economic prospects is ever gloomier. Our forecasters, on average, expect that its GDP will shrink by a shocking 15.5% in 1998, and by a further 0.6% in 1999. Thailand and South Korea will also see severe recessions this year, with GDP falling by 7.3% and 4.9% respectively.